Robots and apparatus, systems and methods for powering robots are disclosed. A disclosed conductive floor to power a robot on the floor includes a plurality of stationary conductors positioned in a pattern and a power delivery circuit to cause adjacent ones of the conductors to have different electrical potentials, the adjacent ones of the conductors to form a circuit to deliver power to the robot via contacts formed in a bottom surface of the robot.

Robots and apparatus, systems and methods for powering robots are disclosed. A disclosed conductive floor to power a robot on the floor includes a plurality of stationary conductors positioned in a pattern and a power delivery circuit to cause adjacent ones of the conductors to have different electrical potentials, the adjacent ones of the conductors to form a circuit to deliver power to the robot via contacts formed in a bottom surface of the robot.

A collected-current monitoring device includes a current-value obtaining unit for obtaining current values I1 and I2; a first RMS-calculation unit for calculating a root mean square (RMS) 1 of the current value I1 at a window width W; a second RMS-calculation unit for calculating a root mean square (RMS) 2 of the current value I2 at the window width W; a determining unit for determining whether a combination of the RMS 1 and the RMS 2 satisfies an abnormality condition; an abnormality-signal output unit for outputting an abnormality signal when the abnormality condition is satisfied; an information-obtaining unit for obtaining railway vehicle information; and a setting unit for setting a set-parameter that includes at least one of the window width W or the abnormality condition depending on the railway vehicle information.

A collected-current monitoring device includes a current-value obtaining unit for obtaining current values I1 and I2; a first RMS-calculation unit for calculating a root mean square (RMS) 1 of the current value I1 at a window width W; a second RMS-calculation unit for calculating a root mean square (RMS) 2 of the current value I2 at the window width W; a determining unit for determining whether a combination of the RMS 1 and the RMS 2 satisfies an abnormality condition; an abnormality-signal output unit for outputting an abnormality signal when the abnormality condition is satisfied; an information-obtaining unit for obtaining railway vehicle information; and a setting unit for setting a set-parameter that includes at least one of the window width W or the abnormality condition depending on the railway vehicle information.

The present invention relates to a current collector device (120) for mounting on a vehicle (100) to transmit electric power between a current conductor (130) located in the surface of a road (110) and the vehicle (100), wherein the current collector device (120) comprises a base (170) for connecting the current collector device to the vehicle, an elongated current collector arm (150) that is in operable connection with the base and a current collector pick-up head (160) attached to the elongated current collector arm distally from the base. The current collector device (120) further comprises at least one vane (180, 280, 380,480) arranged on the elongated current collector arm (150), the at least one vane (180, 280,380, 480) being configured to increase the surface area of the elongated current collector arm (150). The at least one vane (280, 280a-c, 380) is slanted towards the current collector pick-up head (160).

The present invention relates to a current collector device (120) for mounting on a vehicle (100) to transmit electric power between a current conductor (130) located in the surface of a road (110) and the vehicle (100), wherein the current collector device (120) comprises a base (170) for connecting the current collector device to the vehicle, an elongated current collector arm (150) that is in operable connection with the base and a current collector pick-up head (160) attached to the elongated current collector arm distally from the base. The current collector device (120) further comprises at least one vane (180, 280, 380,480) arranged on the elongated current collector arm (150), the at least one vane (180, 280,380, 480) being configured to increase the surface area of the elongated current collector arm (150). The at least one vane (280, 280a-c, 380) is slanted towards the current collector pick-up head (160).

The invention relates to a current collector arrangement arranged to be mounted on a vehicle and to transmit electric power between a current conductor (130; 230; 330; 430; 530) located in the surface of a road and the vehicle, wherein the current collector arrangement comprises a current collector arm (150; 250; 350; 450; 550; 650; 750; 850; 950; 1050) that is arranged to be controllable for at least vertical displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, in order to position the current collector arm relative to the current conductor (130; 230; 330; 430; 530). The current collector arrangement comprises controllable actuators arranged to effect at least the vertical displacement the current collector arm (150; 250; 350; 450; 550; 650; 750; 850; 950; 1050). A first actuator (481; 581; 681; 781; 881; 981; 1081) is arranged to lower the current collector arm from a retracted position into a deployed position, and a second actuator (482; 582; 682; 782; 882; 982; 1082) is arranged to lift the current collector arm from the deployed position into the retracted position. During a vertical displacement effected by one of the first or second actuators, the other actuator is arranged to act as a damper.

The invention relates to a current collector arrangement arranged to be mounted on a vehicle and to transmit electric power between a current conductor (130; 230; 330; 430; 530) located in the surface of a road and the vehicle, wherein the current collector arrangement comprises a current collector arm (150; 250; 350; 450; 550; 650; 750; 850; 950; 1050) that is arranged to be controllable for at least vertical displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, in order to position the current collector arm relative to the current conductor (130; 230; 330; 430; 530). The current collector arrangement comprises controllable actuators arranged to effect at least the vertical displacement the current collector arm (150; 250; 350; 450; 550; 650; 750; 850; 950; 1050). A first actuator (481; 581; 681; 781; 881; 981; 1081) is arranged to lower the current collector arm from a retracted position into a deployed position, and a second actuator (482; 582; 682; 782; 882; 982; 1082) is arranged to lift the current collector arm from the deployed position into the retracted position. During a vertical displacement effected by one of the first or second actuators, the other actuator is arranged to act as a damper.

This invention is a convenient system to charge an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle, during its travel on a road. What sets this invention apart, is that the electric charging is done during normal driving on a special road. It is a convenient, automatic charge method, wherein the driver does nothing except driving. Many types of electric vehicles can be charged automatically, with the charging fee being done automatically, by a license plate scanner.

A wear inspection apparatus includes a data acquisition unit which is configured to acquire surface shape data including information indicating a shape of a surface of a part wearing as a vehicle travels, and an approximation processing unit which is configured to calculate an approximation line for the acquired surface shape data and calculates a degree of wear of the part from the approximation line and a worn portion included in the surface shape data.